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Page 188
"It is true in fact, but not in the implication you are making," Alinor said sharply. "Ian is not of Simon's get, but he is of his training. There is neither self-seeking nor treachery in him. For that matter, did you think that I would invite you to my home to catch you in a trap of King John's setting?"
"No," William admitted, "but I thought that from one cause or another you were not seeing too clearly. Do you see into Salisbury's purpose?"
"No, because I do not know him, and Ian is one who sees the best in all men, I fear, but I do not believe Salisbury's purpose is to spy for John. Ian insists that Salisbury is a good man. If so, it is possible that he comes out of simple affection for Ian. There is some support for that. Salisbury has given his natural son to Ian to raise."
While they were talking, the troop had mounted and started back toward Roselynde Keep. At Alinor's last remark, William shrugged his shoulders. He turned his head to stare straight in front of him and remarked that he knew nothing ill of Salisbury and that anything was possible, with God's will. Alinor refused to be drawn by that provocative and sarcastic hint. She asked a question about the politics of South Wales.
"Your interests are in the north, are they not?" William asked pointedly.
Alinor laughed. "Marriage has been of infinite benefit to you, William. There was a time when you would have followed that false scent without the slightest realization that I wished to turn the subject. Only it is not really a false scent. It is true that Ian's land is with Lord Llewelyn, but Llewelyn is looking in your direction."
"Is this a warning, Alinor?"
Bad treatment was souring William, Alinor thought, then corrected herself. It was not the treatment he minded. Offices and power had been stripped away from him before to reward some undeserving favorite or owing to a change in the power or condition of his over-

 
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